MLA Format Research Paper Citation Examples
The Modern Language Association (MLA) format is one of the major formatting styles used in academic writing, particularly in the humanities. This type of citation style is primarily used by students and academics in the fields of languages, literature, and other related subjects. Proper citations using MLA style allow readers to locate referenced sources easily and gives credit to the original authors for their ideas and research. This article provides examples of in-text citations and reference list entries for some common source types in MLA format for research papers.
In-Text Citations
MLA style uses parenthetical in-text citations to briefly identify the sources of quoted, paraphrased, or summarized material and direct readers to the full reference list entries. These citations include the last name(s) of the author(s) and the page number(s) where the information can be found.
For example:
(Smith 124)
This indicates that the source material comes from an author named Smith on page 124.
If no author is provided, use a shortened version of the title instead:
(“How to Cite Sources” 56)
For quoted material, include the author last name and page number, as well as the specific words used between quotation marks:
As Smith noted, “The use of citations is integral to credible research” (124).
For multiple authors with the same last name, include their first initial as well:
(J. Smith 124)
(P. Smith 179)
For sources with two authors, cite both last names separated by “and”:
(Johnson and Wilson 45)
For three or more authors, only cite the first author’s last name followed by “et al.”:
(Smith et al. 213)
Reference List Entries
The reference list, or bibliography, appears at the end of the research paper and provides full publication details for every cited source. All entries are double spaced and formatted with a hanging indent, meaning the first line of each reference is flush left while subsequent lines are indented five spaces. Sources should be listed alphabetically by the author’s last name (or title if no author is provided).
Some common examples of reference list entries:
Book:
Last, First M. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Year.
Smith, John D. How to Cite Sources in MLA Style. ABC Publishing, 2020.
Article in a Reference Book:
Last, First M. “Title of Article.” Title of Reference Source, edited by Editor’s Name(s), Publisher, Publication Year, page range.
Jackson, Michael. “Citations.” The MLA Style Manual, edited by Joseph Greene, MLA, 2018, pp. 45-78.
Journal Article:
Last, First M. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, vol. #, no. #, Publication Date, page range.
Johnson, Philip. “Using In-text Citations Correctly.” The Writing Journal, vol. 12, no. 3, May 2020, pp. 15-30.
Webpage:
Last, First M. “Title of Page.” Title of Site, Sponsoring Institution/Organization, Date of Publication, URL. Accessed Date.
Williams, Sarah. “A Guide to Citing Online Sources.” Purdue OWL, Purdue U, 25 Jan. 2021, owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_page_basic_format.html. Accessed 31 Jan. 2021.
As you can see, MLA format citation style provides a consistent system for acknowledging sources used in academic research papers. By including both parenthetical in-text citations and a fully formatted reference list, writers give credit to creators of original work and allow readers to follow up on sources of interest. Mastering the MLA citation style takes practice, but these examples provide a starting point for citing common types of sources. Students and researchers should always consult the most recent MLA Handbook for detailed guidelines on citing a wide variety of print and digital materials.